• Premier League

Redknapp won't sell 'match winner' Taarabt

ESPN staff
November 26, 2012
Harry Redknapp has described Adel Taarabt as a 'match winner' © Getty Images
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New Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp insists he has no intention of selling Adel Taarabt, but has warned the Moroccan he needs to work harder on the pitch.

As Tottenham boss back in 2010, Redknapp sold Taarabt to QPR, famously calling the youngster a "fruitcake", while Taarabt was quoted as saying he wished he had joined Arsenal instead.

However, Redknapp insists there is no animosity between the pair, and believes the 23-year-old could be the man to inspire the Hoops clear of the relegation zone.

"He's an amazing talent with the ball, he can still do more without it but there's no doubt he's a match winner for us," Redknapp said in the Daily Mirror. "He's the player who can do something special so well be looking to get the best out of him

"I never really wanted to sell him at Tottenham to be honest, I had a good relationship with him, I never had a problem with Adel. At times his problems were self-inflicted but I let him go because he wasn't playing and the chairman felt it was a good time to let him go."

Redknapp, who was unveiled at the club's Harlington training ground on Monday morning, believes the Loftus Road job is the biggest challenge of his career and warned his new squad that slackers will not be tolerated.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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